Iranian police have arrested dozens of party-goers in Tehran and charged them with mingling with the opposite sex and dancing, according to newspaper reports.

The conservative Jam-e Jam daily said 120 people were arrested at three private gatherings in wealthy districts of the capital.

Another newspaper, Abrar, said 88 young people had been arrested and punished with prison sentences, flogging and fines.

Under laws implemented after Iran's Islamic Revolution in 1979, unrelated women and men are not allowed to dance together or come into physical contact.

However, correspondents say Western-style parties are frequently held in private homes in Tehran's wealthiest areas.

In this case, Abrar reported that those detained - said to be aged between 18 and 21 - were celebrating their entrance to university.

They were caught dancing, the newspaper said. It added that police had found alcohol at the parties.

Last week a well-known Iranian actress was taken to court for kissing a director on the forehead and shaking his hand in public during a film awards ceremony.